As Aston Villa prepare to kick off the new Premier League season against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Martin Spinks, from the Sentinel, tells us all about the Potters.

How much has Mark Hughes changed Stoke City since taking over from Tony Pulis?

The change in philosophy has been quite radical on playing style, transfer policy and setting ambitious targets… and meeting them.

He’s definitely a glass-half-full man as opposed to Pulis who was more glass-half-empty.

But he has also been very respectful of the past and his predecessor, in both words and deeds.

Leaning heavily on the likes of Asmir Begovic, Ryan Shawcross and Glenn Whelan has been a sensible nod to the past.

But there is no escaping the fact that the character and ambition of the team is changing as he introduces players Tony Pulis would never have considered.

What are the expectations for the team this season?

People feel almost guilty in saying they want better than ninth last season, as if it’s being greedy, but I think deep down a lot of people do think that’s on when you look at who they have signed and who they haven’t sold.

Phil Bardsley and Steve Sidwell are more your bread and butter signings, experienced Premier Leaguers who can only add substance to the flair around them.

Bardsley is a certainty at right back this coming season, but Sidwell is more bit part given the midfield competition.

Mame Diouf is the striker the team has been hankering after for many years, a guy who has the pace and strength to get behind defences and, fingers crossed, finish what he’s started. A dozen goals is not unrealistic.

And then there is Bojan. He raised eyebrows by joining, then raised them again by playing so well in pre-season when he netted in three successive friendlies with the kind of class we often saw from him at Barcelona.